CNE Extends Marking Compliance for Fuel Transport Units

The National Energy Commission (CNE) extended the deadline for full compliance with the federal marking and identification requirements, which apply to units transporting and distributing oil products, liquefied petroleum (LP) gas, and petrochemicals. The new implementation deadline is Dec. 31, 2025.

According to the agreement approved by the CNE’s Technical Committee on Nov. 12, the new implementation replaced the original 2025 transitional schedule. The change was formalized in the DOF publication of Dec. 3, 2025, which modifies the general administrative provisions governing the marking system and GPS interoperability obligations for permitted transport units.  

The extension aims to provide greater certainty and adaptation time for operators, ensuring a uniform and orderly transition toward a system that strengthens security, legality, and traceability across Mexico’s fuel logistics chain. The CNE emphasizes that verification of compliance is exclusively federal, coordinated through agreements issued by the Ministry of Energy (SENER) and the CNE. As clarified in the federal notice, state and municipal authorities are not authorized to enforce these obligations.

Advanced Marking and GPS Requirements

The regulation mandates that all transport and distribution units under CNE-issued permits incorporate:

• Reflective QR-coded markings

• Standardized dimensions and location of decals

• Anti-tampering materials

• Full GPS integration enabling real-time monitoring

• Storage of GPS data for at least 12 months

The DOF publication further details specific technical standards, including dimensions and fonts for QR decals, reflective material specifications, and visibility and durability conditions for units ranging from tractor-trailers and semitrailers to small LP-gas delivery vehicles.  

For rail-based storage (carro-tanque) transport, the regulation introduces additional reporting obligations, including unique unit identifiers, cargo manifests, routing data, and RFID-based geolocation, effective Jan. 2, 2026. Full QR-marking compliance for rail tank cars may be deferred pending a CNE technical review due April 30, 2026.  

Persistent Low Compliance in the Broader Vehicle Marking Program

The extension comes amid broader federal efforts to improve visibility and traceability of the national vehicle fleet. Despite the government’s goal to mark 1.8 million units operating on federal highways, only 2% (about 40,000 units) have complied with the reflective-marking regulation issued by the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications, and Transportation (SICT), according to a May 15 statement, reports MBN.

That regulation, published in the DOF on Feb. 7, 2025, requires powered and non-powered units, including trailers and tarped loads, to display standardized reflective identifiers to aid rapid identification during theft, accidents, or other criminal incidents. Operators were originally given 90 days, until May 8, to comply, but participation has remained far below expectations despite outreach to transport chambers.

The specifications, introduced in December 2024 and updated in 2025, mandate reflective devices with standardized fonts, colors, and placements, including markings on every segment of double-articulated configurations.

By extending the CNE deadline, the federal government aims to balance regulatory enforcement with operational feasibility, especially for fuel-sector operators confronting technical, logistical, and unit-type challenges.

The CNE says that the measure reinforces its commitment to a more transparent, secure, and efficient energy sector, improving traceability of fuel movements nationwide and supporting coordinated federal oversight.